Michael Bay's First Great Movie

Rating: 9/10 (15 August 2005)

I have never been a fan of Michael Bay for numerous reasons. The main one being he made intelligent insulting action movies. Yes, they are good action movies, but far from good movies. Also the terrible acting, writing, and vomit inducing editing didn't help as well. But, after seeing The Island, I am now convinced Michael Bay does have the ability to make a good movie. The movie takes place in the future. Lincoln Six Echo (Ewan McGregor) and Jordan Two Delta (Scarlett Johansson) are citizens of an underground Utopian society, people who survived an Earth destroying apocalypse. Everyone wears white, goes through the same daily routines everyday, eat the same foods, work at the same places, and don't ask questions. The one thing that everyone wants though in this society is to go to the Island, which could be compared to Heaven in many ways. The only way you get there is through a lottery system where a winner is picked (a parable to how soldiers were to be drafted and sent off to Vietnam in a similar lottery system.) Lincoln starts to develop an inquisitive mind about the world he lives in, the Island, and what lies beyond the world he lives in. When Jordan is picked to go to the Island, Lincoln discovers the real truth about the Island, and escapes his city with Jordan into the above unknown world to discover the truth behind the meaning of their existence, while trying to be stopped by a expert mercenary (Djimon Hounsou). What makes this movie better than all of other Michael Bay's movies, you may ask? EVERYTHING. The characters are strong from the start. We are drawn into their naive world and minds because we take an interest in finding out the true meaning behind everything. As the characters take steps to discover this, we are with them throughout the film. Michael Bay infuses the audience with questions about what is going. He explains little, but enough to not be too complex or too dumbed-down. He lets the characters slowly discover the mysteries that the audience is eagerly trying to solve themselves He keeps the plot moving at a brisk pace. He spends time with the characters in the plot so we know and understand why they do the things they do. There are many messages that this movie has to say and I'm quite glad they aren't hammered into us. Ewan McGregor is one of the best actors working now. He can even make a mediocre film have some credibility (ala Trainspotting). The actors love their characters, especially Ewan, whom I get the feeling, from his charisma and screen presences, was having a ball of a time working on this movie. He is an actor who always knows how to play just right. Scarlett Johansson is truly one of the best young actresses working. She isn't there just for eye candy (though she is darn good looking) or a "damsel in distress", but is integral to the plot as much as Ewan's character is. The other actors such as Sean Bean, Steve Buscemi and Djimon Hounsou are just great as well.
I can't talk about a Michael Bay movie with mentioning the action scenes. They are done superbly; they are well edited, greatly choreographed, and are rousing, thrilling spectacles. I have no quibbles with them. There is some controversy that Michael Bay put too many in. I think the action's work very well with the film and they fit very well into the film. Of course, I have some minor quibbles with this movie. The main one being the blatant, overuse of product placements in this movie. As far as product placements, they should be saved for commercials, not movies. Overall, The Island is a redemption for Michael Bay. Without the tight leash of Jerry Bruckheimer producing the film, Michael Bay has made a symbolic and movie that will bring many questions about monetary and moral ethics. It is not to be missed.